This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. Many times we hear the words, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” You probably have questioned in your own life or have been asked the question, “What is or who is the Holy Spirit.” We know it as part of the “Trinity,” but who is or what is it?
The Holy Spirit is a guiding influence. The Holy Spirit ministers through the believer’s life, words and deeds and through God’s Word to lead the believer into truth.
The function of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and the church is guiding. Guiding is literally “leading the way.” The Spirit does not drive or compel nor does the Spirit force us or carry us.
As we grow in our Christian life the Spirit will lead us deeper and deeper into the knowledge of the truth. The Spirit will guide us so that we are intimately acquainted with the truth, so that we not only have the concepts in our head but savor them in our hearts. The ministry of the Spirit is to enrich us with the treasures of God’s truth. There is no limit to how much of the Holy Spirit’s leading help we can have. The Spirit stands ready to lead us in all truth as we are ready.
The key to knowing God personally, of having a real relationship with Him, is the ministry of the Spirit. It is through the Spirit that we are able to look at God and not only see Him and know what He is like, but have a personal relationship with Him.
Another function of the Spirit is to glorify Christ. In John 16:14 “He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of mine and shall disclose it to you.” The Spirit works to place Jesus before the eyes and hearts of all of us.
The Spirit takes what is Christ’s and reveals it to us. Without the ministry of the Spirit, without being filled with the Spirit, we cannot understand the things of Christ, nor can we have the things of Christ. All that the Spirit shows us, applies to us for our instruction and comfort. All that the Spirit gives us for strengthening and empowerment, and all that the Spirit secures and seals to us, did all belong to Christ and was given by Him. Christ purchased it all and paid dearly for it and has reason to call it His own.
The Father has it, the Son owns it, the Spirit applies it. The three combine to bring it to the believer. There exists between the persons of the Trinity an eternal, voluntary relationship of love and fellowship, each working harmoniously for the glory and honor of the others.